German launches platform to show beautiful Xi'an to world
German citizen Marcus Meyer is a proud resident of the city of Xi'an – capital of China's Northwest Shaanxi province – and he wants the world to share in his fascination and love of the ancient and dynamic city.
So much so that he has set up an online platform that will act as a one-stop shop for those who want to learn about the city from abroad.
"In 2006, when I first came to Xi'an, I immediately fell in love with this city," Meyer said. He added that the city was full of attractions for him. After his first visit, Meyer and his wife visited Xi'an many times.
In 2017, Meyer got his wish and started living and working in Xi'an with his wife. His wife is a professor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. She leads an international team of biomedical students and researchers dedicated to research in the field of diabetes and immune systems.
"In August of this year, we are very happy and proud to receive a Chinese green card or a permanent resident's card," Meyer said. His wife is rated as a top foreign talent, so they met the conditions for applying for permanent residency.
Marcus Meyer likes cycling and is a semi-professional cyclist. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
Meyer's greatest hobby is cycling and he is semi-professional. In his four years in Xi'an, he has cycled inside and outside the Xi'an City Walls, shuttled through the streets and alleys, measuring the beauty of Xi'an by cycling and witnessing the changes in the city day by day.
Because of cycling, Meyer and his wife have many local friends in Xi'an, as well as some foreign friends. They regularly cycle in and out of the city, especially to the Qinling Mountains, which is his favorite destination.
It has been 15 years since he first came to Xi'an and Meyer has been deeply moved by the development and changes in Xi'an.
"Xi'an is developing very fast, with infrastructure construction improving day by day, while the metro and high-speed rail have been built from scratch and the city has a new look. I like its modernity and liveliness," he said.
Marcus Meyer (L1) and his VivaXian team members pose for a group photo. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
In April Meyer co-founded the online platform VivaXian with a few like-minded expat friends. By shooting videos to show Xi'an's history and culture – as well as its fashion and modernity, tolerance and diversity, innovation and vitality – the platform is said to be allowing the world to understand Xi'an better.
VivaXian is a community organization with more than 1,100 members. Its aim is to organize various types of activities such as cycling, hiking, fitness and watching movies – bringing people from all over the world together and enhancing their intercultural understanding.
